The looming risk of food shortages and anarchy in the UK | Letters

To ensure that we can feed the nation in the event of war, trade disagreements or world shortages, we must make the most of our land to increase self-sufficiency, writes Richard Harvey

Your case for the accumulation of public food reserves in the UK, to ensure that we can feed the nation in the event of war, trade disagreements or world shortages, is well made (Editorial, 20 January). We are rapidly moving into times where the risks of such scenarios are high. Without food for its population, the UK would face economic and political breakdown and anarchy.

You mention the urgent need to accumulate national stocks of food supplies, probably mostly imported, but say nothing about the UK’s own capacity to produce its own food supply from the agricultural and horticultural industries. In a lengthy period of worldwide food shortage, this would be the only way of avoiding food shortages.